FIELD NOTES FOR MAY.

Shannon News, 12 May 1925, Page 4

FIELD NOTES FOR MAY.

(By w. J- McCulloch, Instructor 4n Agriculture). Cereals. —In certain localities where cereal growing (wheat, oats, or barley) is carried on, such as portions or Wairarapa and Rangitikei distric , the end of this month or the beginning of .June is early enough for autumn sowing. The heavier clay soils, where the winters are fairly severe are more suitable for wheat production, and this i 3 probably the reason why cereals are of more importance in the South Island. Although good tilth is essential for autumn sowing, at the same time a few surface clods are an advantage in assisting to prevent the surface . from caking or running together, while at the same time providing a certain amount of shelter to the young plants. The variety (winter) should be one suited to the soil, climate' and general local conditions, and as these vary considerably our guide should be according to past experience. For example, if the area !o be sown in wheat is in good heart, only varieties with sufficient strength, or shortness of straw to avoid lodging, should be chosen. Wheat is undoubtedly the safest cereal to grow for gain on really rich land. Good seed is essential, and this means high ger.ninalion, purity and heavy bushel weight. As the crop has a long growing period, and may be fed off once or twi o, together with the fact that winter varieties of wheat tiller to a much greater extent than spring varieties. From a bushel and a-quarter to two bushels per acre is a sufficient seeding. Less of small grained than large grained varieties need be sown. Oats, uniike wheat require a medium to light soil. On the heavier soils suitable to wheat oats tend to run to straw, and produce only light yields of grain. Algerian oats is the commonest variety in the North Island, and is usually drilled at the rate of about three bushels per acre.

Both oats and wheat should be treated with some reliable smut preventative. Hot water, or formalin treatments are usual for smut. Both hasten germination and cause the seed to swell and run slower in the drill which requires setting to sow a larger quantity. Usually from 1 to 2 cvvt, of super is drilled in with the seed. Roots. —The mangel crop should be stored before the frosts are severe. The usual method is to hand pull the roots, twisting the tops off: by a sudden jerk, while at the same time throwing the roots into rows four drills apart. They are then left to ripen, for about a fortnight to three weeks before carting to the clamps. Pitting improves the feeding value, and mangolds unless pitted frequently cause scouring in stock. The heap should be covered with straw or piled under a plantation as a protection aaginst frost. The mangolds are best arranged in shaped clamps with the best keeping varieties, as Long Reds ,at the end where they will be fed last. Where large areas are to be handled an implement made of two planks fixed together on edge in the shape of a V and drawn at the apex between four drills facilitates harvesting. Although the mangel resists light frosts while left in the ground, very little may cause considerable injury if the crop is left lying in rows too long, as that portion of the root previously under the ground is tender and susceptible to frost.

Where necessary, or where the swede crop is showing signs of disease feeding off can be started, the swedes, being fed with hay ration, using the poorest hay first. On heavy clay soils stock should be removed from the root breaks after heavy rain, otherwise the soil texture may be spoiled. Swedes on heavy soils should never be fed off by cattle on this account.

Pastures. —Liming and top-dressing with the slower-acting phosphatic fertilisers may still be carried out but should not be postponed longer than the present month. On stiff heavy clay : soils Basic slag. Ephos or any of the more soluble mineral phosphates are suitable, but the ideal dressing for medium to heavy soils os lime at the rate of not less than a ton per acre in the autumn, followed up by super at the rate of 2-3 cwt. in the spring. This latter top-dressing has proved very efficacious, in many cases increasing the yields of pastures by over 50 per cent. The great value of top-dressing is becoming more universally recognised each year as a sound economic farm practice. Besides increase in yield, a great improvement in the quality of the herbage of the pasture is always apparent. Before top-dressing- the pasture should be eaten down fairly and closely and thoroughly tripod-harrowed immediately after top-dressing. On light sandy country where humus is deficient a mixture, of super blood and bone, with a little sulphate of potash is usually more suitable.

Drainage.—Drainage work should be attended to as opportunity occurs. All open ditches choked with weeds will require cleaning before the winter rains. Where under drainage is required this should receive careful consideration, as good drainage is a permanent improvement on the farm, and often a limiting factor in the production of a paddock. Drainage at any time is expensive, and where it is too expensive to tile drain, and the subsoil is suitable, mole drainage will be found to have all the advantages of ordinary tile drainage with the exception of permanence, and is far less costly However, only soils which are heavy in texture, free from stones, and with a good fall are satisfactory, indor these conditions the mole drains will usually last indefinitely. In tile drains every care must be taken to have every tile properly placed, as one rnis-plaoed tile might upset the whole system.